Oyerinde: Reps to investigate police for professional misconduct

The House of Representatives has expressed concern over the handling of the investigation into the murder of Olaitan Oyerinde, the Principal Private Secretary to the Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, by the police.

The lawmakers have mandated the House Committees on Justice and Police Affairs to investigate the allegation of professional misconduct against the police.

The committees were given four weeks to report back, with appropriate recommendations to the House.

Pally Iriase (ACN, Edo), who moved the motion under a matter of urgent public importance, said the intervention of the AHouse became necessary as a result of the security of the indigenes of the state.

Governor Oshiomhole had accused the Deputy Inspector- General of Police (DIG) Peter Gana, who was deployed to the state to pursue the case, of deliberately stalling action on evidence provided by the Department of Security Services (DSS).

The lawmaker, however, questioned the reason behind the parade and prosecution of different suspects by the police other than those apprehended by the State Security Service (SSS) that were caught with incriminating materials belonging to the deceased.

Iriase said the allegation of the governor was not only persistent, but had also drawn comments about the reliability of the police.

He said it was worrisome that the police could neither defend the allegation nor deny authorship of the police report sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, which exposed the alleged shoddiness and criminal cover up perpetrated by the DIG.

“It is of concern that the allegation, if proven, contradicts the avowed vision and mission of statements contained in the Code of Conduct document and belies the values espoused therein.